During a future ice age, dying humanity occupies its remaining time by playing a board game called "Quintet." For one small group, this obsession is not enough; they play the game with living pieces ... and only the winner survives.
Director:
Writers:
Award:
- 1 nomination.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Paul Newman | ... |
Essex
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| Vittorio Gassman | ... |
St. Christopher
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| Fernando Rey | ... |
Grigor
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| Bibi Andersson | ... |
Ambrosia
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| Brigitte Fossey | ... |
Vivia
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| Nina van Pallandt | ... |
Deuca
(as Nina Van Pallandt)
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| David Langton | ... |
Goldstar
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| Thomas Hill | ... |
Francha
(as Tom Hill)
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| Monique Mercure | ... |
Redstone's Mate
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| Craig Richard Nelson | ... |
Redstone
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| Maruska Stankova | ... |
Jaspera
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Anne Gerety | ... |
Aeon
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| Michel Maillot | ... |
Obelus
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Max Fleck | ... |
Wood Supplier
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| Françoise Berd | ... |
Charity House Woman
(as Francoise Berd)
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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Emil Glassbourg | ... |
Lost Soul (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Robert Altman | ||
Written by
| Frank Barhydt | ... | (screenplay by) & |
| Robert Altman | ... | (screenplay by) and |
| Patricia Resnick | ... | (screenplay by) |
| Robert Altman | ... | (story by) & |
| Lionel Chetwynd | ... | (story by) & |
| Patricia Resnick | ... | (story by) |
Produced by
| Robert Altman | ... | producer |
| Allan F. Nicholls | ... | associate producer (as Allan Nicholls) |
| Tommy Thompson | ... | executive producer |
Music by
| Tom Pierson | ... | (music composed by) |
Cinematography by
| Jean Boffety | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
| Dennis M. Hill | ||
Editorial Department
| Jim Carter | ... | editorial apprentice |
| Raja Gosnell | ... | assistant editor (as Raja R. Gosnell) |
| William Hoy | ... | assistant editor |
| Richard Whitfield | ... | editorial apprentice |
Casting By
| Luca Kouimelis | ||
Production Design by
| Leon Ericksen | ||
Art Direction by
| Wolf Kroeger | ||
Costume Design by
| Scott Bushnell | ||
Makeup Department
| Monty Westmore | ... | makeup artist |
Production Management
| Jim Kaufman | ... | unit production manager |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Charles Braive | ... | second assistant director |
| Tommy Thompson | ... | assistant director |
Art Department
| Stephen Altman | ... | property master (as Steve Altman) |
| Stéphane Reichel | ... | assistant to art director (as Stephane Reichel) |
| Andre Brochu | ... | construction supervisor (uncredited) |
| Claude Paré | ... | props (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| Sam Gemette | ... | sound editor |
| Robert Gravenor | ... | sound |
| David Horton Sr. | ... | special sound effects designer (as David Horton) |
| Richard Portman | ... | rerecording |
| Hal Sanders | ... | sound editor |
Special Effects by
| Tom Fisher | ... | special effects |
| John Thomas | ... | special effects |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Andy Chmura | ... | camera assistant |
| John Daoust | ... | key grip (as Johnny Daoust) |
| Robert Guertin | ... | camera assistant |
| Kevin O'Connell | ... | gaffer (as Kevin O'Connel) |
| Al Smith | ... | camera assistant |
| Paul Van der Linden | ... | camera operator |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| John Hay | ... | wardrobe |
| J. Allen Highfill | ... | costumer |
Music Department
| London Symphony Orchestra | ... | music performer (as The London Symphony Orchestra) |
| Tom Pierson | ... | conductor |
| Ted Whitfield | ... | music editor |
Script and Continuity Department
| Monique Champagne | ... | script supervisor |
Transportation Department
| Peter Bray | ... | transportation coordinator |
| Melanie Johnson | ... | driver (uncredited) |
Additional Crew
| Victoria Barney | ... | project coordinator |
| Elaine Di Bello Bradish | ... | assistant to producer (as Elaine di Bello Bradish) |
| Dick Dubuque | ... | project accountant |
| David Fitzgerald | ... | assistant to producer |
| Glen Garner | ... | head trainer: Rottweiler dogs (as Glenn Garner) |
| Ralph M. Leo | ... | project auditor (as Ralph Leo) |
| Patrice Ryan | ... | title design |
| Rita Shaffer | ... | project manager |
| Ed Horwitz | ... | personal assistant: Robert Altman (uncredited) |
| Alan Ladd Jr. | ... | presenter (uncredited) |
| Danièle Rohrbach | ... | production secretary (uncredited) |
Production Companies
Distributors
- Twentieth Century Fox (1979) (United States) (theatrical)
- Twentieth Century Fox Film Company (1979) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Twentieth Century Fox (1979) (West Germany) (theatrical)
- Nippon Television Network (NTV) (1984) (Japan) (tv)
- 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2006) (United States) (DVD) (included in the "Robert Altman Collection")
- EuroVideo (2012) (Germany) (DVD)
- Abril Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
- CBS/Fox Home Video (1984) (Australia) (video)
- Key Video (1985) (United States) (video)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Fox Fanfare Music (original music copyright: © 1979)
- Man and His World (filmed on location at)
- The London Symphony Orchestra (LSO) (music performed by)
- Westwood Editorial (post production)
- Lion's Gate 8 Track Sound (sound)
- Panavision (lenses and Panaflex camera by)
- Deluxe Entertainment Services (color by)
- Pacific Title (titles and opticals)
- Twentieth Century Fox (copyright)
- Sonolab (our special thanks to)
- The Bombardier Corporation (train designed and built by)
- Frank Inn Inc. (dogs supplied by: Rottweilers)
- A & R Brochu Construction (set construction company)
- Panasonic Disc Manufacturing (DVD transfer)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
In the distant future the world is in the grip of another ice age. A city originally built to house five million people is now in its death throes as the relentlessly advancing glacier is slowly crushing the metropolis's steel infrastructure. The relatively few surviving fur-clad inhabitants, perhaps thousands, perhaps only hundreds, drift aimlessly in their grim, drab world, awaiting their inevitable fate as they try to survive from day to day with scavenged firewood and minimal diet. Their only solaces are booza, an alcoholic drink distilled from moss, and Quintet, a seemingly innocuous board game for six players. The only other surviving mammals are roving packs of hungry rottweilers which roam the city's corridors and quickly dispose of the remains of the dead. Newly arrived from the south is Essex with his pregnant wife Vivia, seeking shelter in the doomed city, only to find it populated by people middle-aged or older. They had supported themselves by hunting seals, but now that the last of the aquatic mammals has been killed off, they seek shelter in the apartment of Essex's brother, a renowned Quintet player. The new arrivals quickly learn that the game has a more sinister side. Written by duke1029@aol.com |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | A Game of Death See more » |
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| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
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Did You Know?
| Trivia | To add realism, Robert Altman had all the sets kept at freezing temperatures. The slight impairment to the lips in extreme cold is noticeable when the actors speak. See more » |
| Goofs | Throughout the film, packs of wild Rottweilers are seen scavenging corpses. However, all of the dogs have their tails docked. Truly wild Rottweilers would still have their tails, since the docking of their tails is done to them when they are puppies, by human owners. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in The Brink's Job/Hardcore/The Warriors/Quintet/The Great Train Robbery (1979). See more » |
| Crazy Credits | Instead of fading to black before the film begins, the silent 20th Century Fox logo instead *dissolves* into the opening scene, that of a frozen wasteland in a heavy blizzard. See more » |
| Quotes |
Grigor:
...and talk about life. Essex: The only thing I've seen is death, or the prospect of it. Grigor: But that's what makes life worthwhile; every time you cheat death, you feel the pure thrill of life See more » |